Means for shearing and forming knockouts



Dec. 12, 1944. l.. v. wHlsTLER Erm. 2,364,835

MEANS FOR SHEARING AND FORMING KNOCK-OUTS Dec. 12, 1944. 1 v. wHlsTLr-:RErm. 2,364,835

MEANS FOR SHEARING AND FORMING KNOCK-OUTS Filed April 20, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 cg/dzl'g *65 v lv 5,3 ,57 J4 wml lian/rence ws'ferPatented 4Dee. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEN y' MEANS FonsHEAniNG AND FonMiNG KNocxoU'rs Lawrence v. Whistler and senioren.Whistler.

, Kenmore, N. Y.

continuation application serial No. 479,953,

Max-c1120, 1943. This applicationApril 20,1944,

serial No. 531,952

24 Claims; (Cl. 164-32) seriesl of knock-out regions or sections, onesur- /rounding orpactically surrounding another, such regions orsections being almost entirely severed limited in number only by thecapacity oi' the die# set or press in which our improved die devices lor mechanisms are used; any number of knockouts being thus formed withina sheet of metal or directly in the wall of a Junction box or'other ob-A ject under one operation of the press.

one from another and all almost entirely severed i'rom the container,boxor other object in which the knock-out or knock-outs, are formed.

I In the particular application of our invention herein illustrated,each of the die-members for shearing or forming such knock-outscomprisesa plurality or series of sections or elements. at least three in number,adapted to form a knock-out having a center section or element and oneor more annular sections or elements, the latter surrounding the centersection oralement and all sections or elements being surrounded by the-It is another object of our invention to provide a die device ormechanism in which both the punch-member and the die-member are formedof a plurality of sections nested one within the other wherein allsections are held against movement, at leastin the direction of theirlengths, a certain section or certain sections of both the punch-memberand the die-member extending at its operating end or their operatingends, as

the case may be, beyond the operating end or ends of an adjacent sectionor sections to establish shearing edges to sever the stock operated uponsubstantially circularly, orarcuate y.

A further object of our invention is to provide a die-couple for4shearing or forming sectional knock-outs in which each member of thediecouplecomprises a center or core section and a plurality of annularsections arranged one within stock in which the knock-out is formed. Inthis manner a knock-out capable of accommodating either of two or morediilerent sizes of pipesor conduits is provided.

We are aware of the fact that sectional knockouts are non7 in common'useand dies comprising a center section or"element and one or more annularsections or elements are also in common use, but such die sections orelements are arranged for movement relatively one within another in thedirection ef the axes of the punch and die members and that where soused a single knockout die mechanism is employed in a press and iscentrally located therein, due to the fact that the relative movement of.the die sections orele ments of the punch and die members is effectedby mechanism situated centrally in the press and another and all aroundthe center or core section; the operating ends of the sections formingeach of said members being fashioned to .provide annular grooves, andannular projections adapted to co-act with said grooves to lance orshear metal to forma knock-out having a circular center region orsection and a plurality of annular surrounding regions lor sections;said die-couple including means to form narrow tie-portions between theregions or sections of the knock-out and thus prevent complete severanceof the sections one from the other and al1 from the'stock operated byparts of. the press,.also centrally located'therein. For this reason asheet of metal designed to be fashioned into a junction box or similarobject in'which several knock-outs are to be 'formed requires a separateoperation oi the,

' press for each knock-out to be stamped or formed in the sheetof,metal'. l V

Itis one of the objects of our invention to provide die vdevices ormechanisms for simultaneous- 1y shearing or forming a plurality ofknock-outs,

in which the knock-out is formed.

It is also a further object of our invention to provide solidfoundations having a series' of knockrout die-couples applied thereto;corresponding members of all die-couples` utilizing the same foundationas their support and said foundations being applied to the relativelymovable spaced-apart ram and shoe of a die-set-under action -of apressin which the die-set is arranged;

'thus permitting any number of knock-outs to be formed in sheet metal orthe like under one op eration of the `press. within the capacity, ofcourse, of the die-set in.which the die-couples are arranged.

A still further object of our invention is to provide die mehanism forshearing or forming knock-outs in sheet metal or the like .wherein onemember of said die-couple is provided with an annular projection orprojections on itsaoption or projections are adapted to enter for forc-5 ingan annular region or regions of sheet metal or the like -into saiddepressions; at least one of the peripheral faces "of said annularprojection or one of the peripheral faces of each of said annularprojections being preferably slightly bevl0 eled., l

With the above and other objects to appear hereinafter, we haveillustrated our invention in a representative manner in the accompanyingdrawings, described the same in the specification, 15

and particularly pointed out our invention in the the subjoined claims.

In the drawings: f

Fig. 1*' is a front elevation of a die-set having a plurality of ourdie-couples applied thereto and 2o showing a sheet of metal between themembers of the various de-couples for the purpose of simultaneouslystamping a. series of knock-outs in the metal under a single operationof the die-set;

the die-set being adapted t0 be placed within a 25 press, under theaction of which the knock-outs are to be formed.

Fig. 2 isy a longitudinal section taken on line 2 2' Hg- 1:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through 30 a die-couple, themeans for holding the two members of the die-couple and the strippingmechanism associated therewith. -L f Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectiontaken on line 4 4, Fig. 3 showing the lower or die-member of 35 thedie-couple and its associated stripping platev in plan view. v

gig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5 5, Fi 3'.

Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 isa vertical section taken on line 1.-1, Fig. 5.v

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a die-couple, portions of thefoundations thereof, and portions ofthe securing annuli by means ofwhich the members of the die-couple are secured to said foundations; thedie-couple shown in this figure Abeing one in which the metal betweenthe tie- 50 portions of the knockf-butsections are bulged out of lineand in which corresponding annular sections of the members of thedie-couple are designed to operate on two annular regions of the metaland shear the same.

Fig. 9 is an exaggerated vertical section of the operating ends of adie-couple taken through one-half of its diameter and showing theperipheral faces of the projecting annular portions of one member ofsaid die-couple slightly tapered,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the sectional 60 assembly of one memberof va die-couple adapted for shearing stock preparatory to bulgingannular regions thereof when such bulging is to be effected as aseparate operation, or when no bulging operationis required. i y 65 Fig.11 is a detached perspective `view of the sectional assembly of onemember of a diefcouple, the operating annular regions of which are shownundulating so` that high and low regions are provided for the purpose ofbulging the metal in each annular region or section of a knock-outbetween tie-portions thereof out of line with adilacen't surrounded andsurrounding portionsl of the metal.

Fig. 6 isl a vertical section taken on line @en 4 Fig. 12 'is a planview of a piece of metal showing a sectional knock-out formed therein.

We desire to stress the fact that in our invention we'are able toutilize a single die-couple or any number of die-couples within theareas of the ram and shoe -of a die-set and that our invention thereforediffers from other knock-out dies in that the latter are used singly ina. press and because of the necessity of eiecting the stamping orshearing operation through the medium lof movable parts arrangedcentrally in the press and forming part thereof.

We also stress the difference existing between this invention andsectional dies of the general type utilized in this invention` in thatthe sections walls of junction boxes or other objects' in whichelectrical instrumentalities are to be confined.

Our knock-out making or die-device is particularly designed for use inconnection with `any -commercial type of die-set and it is, therefore,

entirely independent of any operating elements forming part of the pressin whichv the shearing or stamping operations are effected. This there"fore, enables the knock-out making or die-device -t be secured to anyregion or regions of the ram and shoe of a die-set, regardless of thecentering of such deviceor devices with respect to the center ofthepress, asis now 'found neces esary; and it might be stated that thesedevices,

can be secure'd directly to the ram and bed of a. press in the eventthat a suitable die-set is not available, since the shoe and the ram ofa die-set serve merely as foundations for the two members of eachknock-'out die-couple. that where the die-couples are applied directlytothe ram and bed of a press, such members of' the press will serve asfoundations for said diedevices or mechanisms the same as the ram andshoe ovfv die-set. I

l is i. prefer to employga die-set to be placed within a power press, wehave in the application of our invention shown in the accompanying`drawings designated the die-set by the numerai l5, and it comprises adie-shoe I6 from which guide-posts I1 extend on which the ram I8 of thedie-set is vertically movable. It is, of course, understood that thedie-shoe is fastened orother wise applied to the bed of a press and theram of the die-set to the ram of the press and is movf lable therewith.This arrangement may be varied so long as the shoe and ram of thedie-setare relativglymovable to enlarged and decrease the space betweenthe two during each cycle of move. ment of the press. l f

We prefer to employ punch-holders I9 which are adapted lto befastened-'tothe underside of v 0 the upper or ram member I8 of thevdie-set or to the ram vof a punch or stamping press, and a diei holder20 adapted to be fastened to the shoe of theA die-set or to the bed of apress.V These punch and die-holders are provided centrally with lo-feating pins 2|, 22, respectively, which are de- It will be clear'corresponding in' diameter accesso signed lto enter openings 2l in theram and shoe of the die-set, or in any other foundation element Theoutermost Jsleeve-likeisection of each to rwhich the punch anddie-holders are tobe applied, regardlessv of whether such foundationelements are the ram and shoe of a die-set; the ram and bed of a press,or separate plates (not shown) which may be secured to the ram and shoeof the die-set or to the ram and bed of the y press.

. outs, it is to be understood that even though reference is herein madetov die-devices or mechanisms, there are occasions when a singlediedevlce or mechanism may be employed and .this may be positioned inthe die-set or, press without regard to the center of either. Invariablya dieset or any other means which will provide suitl able foundationsand supports for the two members of a die-couple is of a size to meetthe particular requirements o'f the stamping opera- .tion to be effectedregardless of the number of die-couples used. Y

The punch and die-members ofeach die-couple areco-axially larranged andthe axes of these members are axially alined .with the locating pins '2|and 22 lprojecting from the upper and lower faces, respectively, ofthe-punch and die-holders. Where a plurality of die-'devices ormechanisms areemployed, the centers of the knock-outsto be formed in thewall of a' box or a sheet of metal member of the punch and die-device isprovided at its inner end with an outstanding or peripheral flange 36which is entered into a rabbeted portion of a retainer element orannulus 31 surrounding it. The inner peripheral face at the inner end ofeach sleeve-like section 26, 21, 23

. and 29 of the punch-member and the inner pewill be predetermined, andsuch centers determine the centers of the die-devices or mechanisms andare according toa pre-designed tem- 'plate or shoe of a die-set, or theram and bed of a pre/ss, or'oon foundation plates to be applied to suchmembers of a die-set or` press. Regardlessof what the foundationelements may be, the nters thus established will permit the drilling orpunching'of the openings 23 to conform to the locating pins and thus itwill be clear that the l mere placement of the die-devices or mechanismsagainst their foundation or supporting elements willres'ult'in properplacement topunch the'knock-outs in the stock or object operated uponwith their centers at pre-determined points thereof. I i

Each. punch-member andD each die-member l comprises several sections orparts, preferably cylindrical and these are nested one within another.InFig. 3 of the drawings we have illustrated a punch-member 24comprising iivesections, one a center or core section 25, immediatelysurrounded by a sleeve-like section 26, lwhich in turn is surrounded bya sleeve-like sec- -tion 21. The section 21 is surrounded by asleevelike section 2B and this in turn is surrounded by asleeve-likesection 29. Thesections 28 may therefore betermedintermediate'sleevelike sections. 'I'hedie-member 30 32, 33, 34and 35 correspond in diameter to corresponding sleeve-like sectionsv ofthe punch-member. punch and die-members The icnner ends 4of the areflush and bear firmly against their respective foundation members,

These centers can befixed on the ram' 26, Naud noted that the retainerelements or annuli 31 engage the flanges 38 of the outermost sleevelikesection of each'member and are employed to fasten' the punch anddie-members to their respective foundations or supports, while thealining anges formed on the outer peripheral faces at the inner ends ofthe remaining sections preventrelative movement of all sectionslongitudinally or in the direction of their axes. Socketed seemingscrews 42 are passed through the retainer elements or andnuli 31 and arethreaded into the punch and die-holders I9 and 20; eachpunch-member andeach die-member being in\ eifectjzhe same as an integral structure.

The sections of the punch and die-members vary alternately in length andin the particular illustration of our invention, the sections 32 and 34of the die-member are somewhat shorter than the remaining sectionsthereof and thus form annular grooves 43 and 44, see Fig. 9. Thecoacting sections 26 and 28 of the punch-member are somewhat longer thanthe remaining sections of said punch-member and form annular projectionsor ribs 45 and 46 which are adapted to enter the annular grooves vordepressions 43 mon use, but always sheared or stamped in the stock oneat a time during each cycle of a press operation. Provision may be madeinany suitable manner for preventing relative rotative movement of thesections forming the punch and die-members of our improved die-device ormechanism; but since such movement is not detrimental to theoperationnof our invention, such means is not shown and maynot berequired since these sections are micrometrically dimensioned and ttightly one within the other.

A knock-out making-device or mechanism in which each punch-member andeach die-member comprises five sections is designed to form a knock-outhaving four removable regions or sections, such as shown in Fig. 12 anddesignated -by the numerals 41, 48, 49 and 50, respectively.

comprises Y '.'similar co-actinar members 3|,32, 33, 34 and 35;

punch-member 24 while the anyone or any number of which. as clearlyunderstood by those familiar with the art to which thisinventionrelates, can be punched out, depending on the size of the -conduit to beemployedfin connection with the knock-out. Assuming a conduit conformingin diameter to the` diameter of the center sections of the punch and v[die-members is to be used, force would only be applied to the centersection 41 of the knock-out, which is invariably separated from thesurround- Y i ingvannular sections except for a short tieporwhether theram and shoe of' a die-set, the ram bed ment.

tion or tieportions 5I connecting the same with4 the surroundingsleeve-like section 43 and'` this is true of all annular regions orsections 1 of the.

Q' A'stripping plate 62 surrounds the upper bination of knock-outregions or sections matching the opening to be formed.

'I'he retainer elements or annuli 31 have the securing screws 2 arrangedat regular intervals around the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, andpreparatory to fastening said retainer elements or annuli in place,dowe1 pins 54 are employed to properly position the same. These dowe1pins are positioned at diametrically. opposite points of the securingelements or annuli, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, thelower vportions ofthose employed in conjunction with the die-member of the diecouple beingdriven into dowe1 openings 55 formed in the die-holder while the upperportions thereof extend above the upper face of said dieholder and enteropenings. 56` formed in the retainer element or annulus 31 associatedwith the die-member. Similar dowe1 pins are employed for the retainerelement or annulus used for securing the punch-member to thepunch-holder I9. The underside or surface of the punch-member andupperside or surface of the die-member may be referred to asoperatingfaces and more par V ticularly as contacting or pressure faces designedto co-act upon a sheet of metal or upon the wall of a box or otherobject designated by the numeral 51.

The upper tace of the die-member is provided ,with one or more annulardepressions or grooves, such as 43, 44, the number depending upon theparticular knock-out to be formed in the metal, and while we haveillustrated a knock-out making-device comprising several sections orparts for forming sectional knock-outs, it is to be understood that thepunch and die-members of such devices may be constructed to form aknockout having a` single part without departingfrom the principleinvolved in-this invention or the particular features of noveltyembodied therein. In all cases however, upon insertion of a sheet ofproviding'a simple means to position the two tive foundations orsupports by means of vmembers of the punch and die-device in axialalinement before securing them to their respecvre tainer'elements orannuli 31, said guide posts having a definite relation to the locatingpins 2| and 22 extending from the, punch and die-holders -IB and 20,respectively. The guide posts 6I may be retained in their supportingposition when a single knock-out is to be formed in a sheet of meta1 notwider than the space between the guide posts 'and while these guideposts maintain the punch and. die-members of the punch and die-device inconcentric or axial relationship, they may in some instances bedispensed with and are preferably dispensed with when a plurality ofknock-outs are to be stamped in a sheet of metal or other stock,- asclearly shown in Figs. l and -2 of the drawings. The stripping plate 62has guide rods 85 metal or a wall of a box or other structure bel tweenthe two members of the punch and dievdevice, the closing or approachingmovement of 52 of the knock-outs, the inner or the outer peripheral wallof each annular concentric depression or groove in the operating face ofone of the members of tHe die-couple is nicked, as at 58, and at pointswhere these nicks are formed the tie-portions 5| and 52 are establishedin the knock-out. 1 end of the die-member 30 and it is provided atopposite ends with ears having openings therein to vtit guide-posts 6I.A like stripping plate 59 surrounds the lower end of the punch-memberand it also has ears 53 provided with openingsfto receive the guideposts 8|, said guide posts havingtheir lower ends d'riven into thedie-holder 30 and their upper ends slidable in openings 8d 'formed inAthefpunch-holder. The said Astripping plates are, therefore, guided formovement on the punch and die-members 24-and x3l), respectively,angpalso on the guide posts 6|; these guide posts rods 65.

fastened to its four corners and these-extend downwardly and are enteredin guide holes 81, seeFig. '7, to provide downwardly facing shoulders 6Bagainst which enlargements or heads 69 at the lower ends of said guiderods normally bear. Surrounding each guide rod is a spiral spring 10,one end of which bears. against the upper side ofthe die-holder 20 andthe other end against the underside of the stripping-plate B2.

Similar springs 1| are provided between the stripping plate 59 ofthepunch-holder I9 and these are associated with guide rods 12 similarto and operating in the same manner as the guide The guide rods 12 enterholes (not shown) in the punch-holder exactly like the guide-holes 66 inthe die-holder 20. The springs. 10 and 1I function to position the lowerface of. the punch stripping-plate 59/ slightly below the lower o'roperating face of .the punch-member 2l and the stripping-plate 82 itsupper face sl ghtly above the level-or operating face of the dieem; ber30 so that when the punch and die-members are brought together and areunder full pressure posing faces of the stripping plates may be inalinement with the true or operating faces of the punch and die-membersand upon separating these members the stripping springs 'I0 and 1l willretrieve their normal positions and act'to strip stock from the punchand die-members.

yThis adjustment of the stripping plates may, of

course, .be modified so long as "said plates funcnon to strip the' stockfrom the punch and dienmbers; When the strippingplates are in theirnormal positions. the heads of the guide rods and 'l2 will be in firmcontact with the shoulders in their respective guide holes. While Weprefer makig the punch and die-members cylindrical, it is apparent' thatthe exteriorv formation of these'members may be otherwise formed and yetpermit the depressions and elevations oi' the two members of the punchand die-couple to be formed in or on the contact-pressure or operatingfaces ofthe same. It is also to be understood that the several. parts orsections of the knock-out need not lnecessarily be concentric, sincevarious sized t openings may be provided in aknock-out without confiningthe 'product to a knock-out in which the regions or sections thereof areconcentrically arranged.

The' punch and die-members of our improved punch-andV-die device, orknock-out making-device as it may be termed, have supporting orfoundation elements as backing's for the same and the superficial areasof such elements at all times conform to the number of punch anddieregion-of the same.

desired opening in the metal.

devices to be employed in stamping knock-outs in a workpiece. Thel punchand die-holders I9 and 20 serve as intermediate foundations or supportsfor the punches and dies and by reason of their upper` and lowersurfaces being fiat they receive solid support from the foundationelements. and in turn provide solid flat supporting surfaces for theinner ends of thepunches and dies, or more.particularly, the inner endsof the punch and diefsections when such punches and ascenso l 5 have insome instances provided what may be termed forming, off-setting,orbuiging dies th which knock-outs previously stamped, sheared,

' or lanced are operated upon'so as to bulge or ofi.'-

set adjoining areas. or. sections of the knock-out out'of completealinement betweenthe tie-portions connecting the sections so that lightcan be seen along the major portions of 'the circularly orarcuatelysheared or lanced lines. asthe case may be. Assurance will,therefore, be had that the solid center-section of the knock-out will becompletely severed from the annular section immediately surrounding it.except where a tie-portion or. tie-portions, such as illustrated in Fig.12 connect the two together; also that complete severance of the metaloccurs between the several annular sections of the knock-out andvbetween the outermost annular section and thev k-out is body .of the`sheet in which thev v formed, except Where the tie-portions connectingsuch sections are formed.v 1t is, therefore, to be understood that arudimentarily formed knockinner or operating yend face so as to form anannular projection or rib 18 around the inner The die-member comprises acenter or'core section 11 whichds immediatelyv `surrounded by an annularor sleeve-like section 18; the latter being surrounded by anl annularprojections 18 on the annular sections of the punch member. The coresections 13 and 11 of the punch and die members form the solid center ofthe knock-out, while the two intermediate annular or sleeve-likesections 1 4 and 18 form the next two annular regions or sections of theknock-out and the outer annular sections 15 and 1 19 of the punch anddie members form the outermost annular region or section of theknock-out. As clearly described in our allowed application identifiedhereinbefore, provision is made to assure a complete severance of themetal between tie-portions lof the knock-out and, therefore, in

some cases we provide means Afor .off-setting or bulging the metal ofthe knock-out between the tie-portions which connect the sections of theknock-out together. This may be accomplished while shearing or lancin'gthe metal or afterhaving sheared or lanced the metal to define theoutlines of the several sections of the knock-out. When using aknock-out making-device or punch and die mechanism such as shown inFigs. 2 3, 4, 9 and l0, the operating or pressure end faces of thevarious sections of the devices or mechanism are all flat with the innerwalls of the respective annular grooves parallel with the outer faces ofthe annular projections. When operating upon certain kinds of metal orother stock,the shearing or lancing operation is sometimes found to beincomplete, due to the fact that at regions other than the smalltie-portions -which are intended to serve as the sole means for tyingsuch sections together, the metal is not completely sheared or lanced.This prevents a complete severance of a section orcombination ofsections from the knock-out and causes difilculty in forming the Forthis reason,

users of products in which knock-outs are called for demand that acomplete severance of the metal in which the knockout is formedbeeffected between tie-portions, and to assure this we out is createdunder action of punch and diemembers, such as illustrated in Fig. 10 andthat the so rudimentarily created or formed knock-out is subjected to asecond operation under action of punchesand dies, such as shown in Fig.11,

which may be termed offsetting, or bulging punch and die-devices. Thevarious sections of such an off-setting or bulging die-couple are in allrespects similar to the sections of the shearing or lancing die-couples,such as shown in Fig. 10, except that the outer or operating end facesof the sleeve-like or annular sections are formed for olf-setting orbulgingthe metal at regions be tween tie-portions, instead of shearingor lancing the metal.` 'I'he outer operating end face of the twoVmembers of thedie-couple shown vin Fig. 11 are therefore designed forsupplementary operation.on the sheared or lanced knock-outs previouslystamped by a shearing or lancin'g die-couple in the usual manner, forthe purpose o f positively separating the metal between the sectionsfrom tie-portiontotie-portion.

In Fig. 11 we have illustrated the die-member of an off-setting orbulging die-couple in which the solid center or core section is or maybe an exact duplicate of the solid center or core sec' tion of .thedie-couples previously herein de; scribed. I'he intermediate annular:section or sections; as the case may be, of each member of thedie-couple havetheir end faces made undulating so as to provide high andlow regionsflll,

vBL-respectively, gradually merging one into the It is, of course.. tobe understood that the two members of the dies having undulating annularprojections a'nd grooves may also be utilized to shear 'or lance thestock and simultaneously therewith cause the stock inone annular regionto be bulged out of line with an adjoining portion `of a surrounding orsurrounded region or sectionof the. knock-out. In such cases the highregions 8l ofone of the punch and die-members have the nicks 5I formedtherein so that the tie-portions are formed at spaced-apart pointsaround'the' annular sections of the knock-out, andvbetween thesetie-portions the adjacent portions of adjoining sections of theknock-out are bulged out of line with each other so that along thearcuately lanced or severed lines, light can be seen `between thetie-portions of the knock-out and assurance had of a complete severanceof the metal between said tie-portions.

We particularly wish to stress the fact that the peripheral faces of theprojecting portions of one of the members of each die and punch-devicemay be slightly beveled, as clearly shown in an exaggerated mannerat 83in Fig. 9. The bevel, or chamfer as it may be termed, beingapproximately one-half lof one degree. This will assure a perfectshearing or lancing of the stock without the-tendency of jamming theregions of the stock covered thereby into the co-acting annulardepressions formed in the die-member of the punch and diedevice. l

From the foregoing it will be clear that when the punch and die-membersor the various sections of such members are applied directly to the ramand shoe of a die-set or to the ram and bed of a press, or when used inconjunction with dieholders, as for example illustrated, flat founda- Ation surfaces are provided for the inner ends of such members and thatsuch punch and die-members may be applied selectively to any regions ofsuch flat foundation so that a plurality or series of punch anddie-devices may be used rlfor simultaneously stamping or oforming anynumber of knock-outs in a sheet of metal or other stock within thecapacity of the die-set or press used in the stamping operation.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is: f

1. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother flat stock, comprising .spaced-apart foundation surfaces, each ofwhich has a given superficial area, a plurality of punch-holders securedto 'one ,of said foundation surfaces, a corresponding number ofdie-holders secured to the other of said surfaces, :a punch membersecured to each of said punchf holders, and having a plurality ofsections fitting one within another and immovable relatively in thedirection of their axes, a die-member secured to each of 'saiddie-holders in axial alinement with a punch-member to form a punch anddie couple and having a plurality of sections fitting one within anotherand immovable relatively in the direction of their axes, the operating.faces of said punch and die-members having mating annular depressionsand elevations adapted to lance stock circularly and having means toform tie-portions at one or more points "of the circularly-lanced linesin said stock.

2. Punch and die mechanism for punching f knock-outsin sheet metal orother flat stock,

comprising a pair of spaced-apart supports having at opposing surfacesand beingv relatively movable in a plane at a right angle to suchsurfaces, a punch-member applied to any region of one of said supportingelements and having a plurality of sections fitting one within anotherandf immovable relatively in the direction of their axes, a die-memberapplied to the other of said supporting surfaces in axial alinement withsaid punch-member.- and having a plurality of sections tting one withinanother and immovable V relatively in the direction of their axes, bothsaid punch and die-members being formed to arcuatelyv shear stock placedbetween the two and leave vnarrow unsheared tie-portions between theends of the arcuately-sheared lines, the placing of said punch anddie-members against any alined regions of said supports enabling thestamping or forming of a knock-out in sheet metal or other stock in anyregion of the latter.

3. Punch and die-mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother fiat stock, comprising a pair of spaced-apart. supporting elementsof considerable area and having at surfaces facing each other, aplurality of punchmembers applied selectively to any regions of one ofsaid supporting elements, each punch member having a plurality ofsections fitting one within another and immovable relatively in thedirection of their axes,'and a plurality of die-members applied to theother 0f said supporting elements in axial alinement `With saidpunch-'members to form a plurality of punch and die-couples, each diemember having a plurality of sections fitting one within another andimmovable relatively in the direction of their axes, both members ofeach punch and die-couple being formed to arcuately lance sheet metal orother stock and leave narrow unsheared tie-portions between the ends ofthe arcuately-lanced portions, said die-couples being applied to saidsupporting elementsin any desired spaced relation to stamp a pluralityof knock-outs in the stock in accordingly-spaced relation.

'4. Punch and die mechanism iorl punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother flat stock, comprising a pair of spaced-apart supporting elementshaving fiat securing faces, a punch-member securedto one 0f saidsupporting elements, a diemember secured to the othery of saidsupporting. elements,each of said members having a plurality of sectionsnested one within-the other and at least one of the sections of each ofsaid mem-v bers being longer than others toform an annular projectionand an annular depression on its op- `erating faceat least one of theperipheral walls' of .the annular projections of each member beingslightly beveled and adapted for co-action with a supporting elements, adie member secured to the securing face of the other of said supportingelements, each of said members having a center or core section andannular surrounding sections, certain of said sections beinglonger thanothers to form annular -projections, the annular prol jections of atleast one of said members having j their peripheral faces slightlybeveled.

. 6. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother flat stock, comprising a pair of spaced-apart supporting elementshaving fiat securing faces, a punch-member secured to the securing faceof one of said supporting elements, a die-member secured to thesecuringface of the otherv of said supporting elements, one of saidmembers having an annular projection and the other having an annulardepression adapted to receive 'said projection, the peripheral faces ofsaid annular projection being slightly beveled.

7. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother flat stock. comprising a punch-member and a dief-member, eachhaving a center section and an annular surrounding section, saidsections beingimmovable relatively in-the'direction of their axes. theopposing yoperating faces of said annular surround-` ing sections beingformed tovlance or shear two sections of a knock-out lanced circularlyexcept for at least one tie portion therebetween.

8. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet-metal orvother fiat stock, comprising a punch-member and a die-member,

each having a plurality of nested sections providing circular andannular operating faces designed to' stamp circular and annular regionsin sheet metal or the like, said sections being'immovable relatively inthe direction of their'axes,

the operating faces of certain corresponding sections of -said membersbeing stepped to shear or lance two annular sections of the knock-out inthe stock being operated upon. l

9; Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother ilat material,

co-action with said annular' projection, each of the remaining annularsections of said last-mentioned member being stepped annularly in itsface to provide an annular depression around its inner region and anannular projection around its outer region while the correspondingsection of the other member has its face steppedto provide an annularprojection around its inner region andA an annular depression aroundits` outer region for co-action respectively with the annular depressionand projection of its mating section.

10. Pun-ch and die mechanism for punching sectional knock-outs insheetmetal or other stock,

each formedof a plurality of sections arranged supporting elements and spiurauty 'o'f di-members similarly applied tothe other of saidsupporting elements to form a plurality of punchand-die couples, bothmembers' ofeach punchand-die couple being designed to arcuately shear orlance the stock and leave narrow unsheared tie portions between the endsof the arcuately sheared portions, and a stripping-device surroundingeach punch-member and die-member o f each punch-and-die couple.

' 13. Punch and die mechanism for simultaneously punching a pluralityofknock-outs in spaced-apart relation in sheet metal or other fiat stock,comprising a'plurality of punch-and-die couples, each member of each ofsaid couples' being formedmffa plurality oi' sections arranged oneAwithin another and the sections of each mem.. ber being immovablerelatively in the direction of their axes, a pair of spaced-apartsupporting ele'- ments to one of which the punch-member of each of saidpunch-and-die couples is applied and .to the other of which thedie-member of each of said punch-and-die couples is appliedfthecoactingfaces ofeach punch-and-die couple being designed to shear the stock soas to form a sectional knock-out, and stripping means applied to eachpunch-and-die couple.

comprising a punch-member and che-memberv one within the other, saidsections having means to prevent relative movement in the direction oftheir axes and each member having an operatingv face conforming to theoperating face of the other member to arcuately-stamp, shear or lancethe stockvto form a sectional knock-out and to provide tie-portions atthe end of the arcuatelysheared or lanced lines between the sections ofthe knock-out. l

11. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother nat/stock.

comprising a pair of spaced-apart supporting elel ments relativelymovable toward and from one another, a lplurality of punch holderssecured to one of said elements, a' corresponding number of die-holderssecured to the other of said elements, a punch-member secured to each ofsaid punchholders, a die-member secured to each'of said die-holders inaxial alinement with 'a punchmember to form a punch-and-die couplethere-f with, one member of each punch-and-die couple having a circulardepression in its operating face and the other member thereof having acircular Projection on its operating face whose axis is coincident withthe axis of said circular depression, said circular elevation beingadapted to apvproach or enter said circular depression to sear the stockoperated upon, each punch-and-die couple including means-to maintain anarrow unsheared tie-portion or tie-portions in said-stock between thesheared regions thereof, and means for stripping the material from saiddie-couples.

l2. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother ilat stock,

a pair of spaced-apart supporting elementare tively movable to enlargeor diminish .the space between the two, a plurality of punchmembersapplied to selected regions of one of 14. Punch and die mechanism forsimultaneously punching a plurality of knock-outs in closelyspaced-apart relation in sheet nti/etal or other iiat stock, comprisinga plurality of punch-and-die `cou`ples, a pair of spaced-apartsupporting elements to one of which the punches 'of said punchand-diecouples are, applied and to theother of which the dies of saidpunch-and-die couples are applied, the co-acting faces of each punch-.and-die couple. being designed to shear the stock so as )to form asctonal knock-out, a stripping device surrounding e' punch of eachpunch-anddie couple, and a stri ping-device surrounding the die of eachpunch and-die couple, said stripping-devices being secured to saidsupporting elements. l,

15. Punch and die mechanism forl simultaneously punching a plurality ofyknock-outs in spaced-'apart relation in sheet metal or vother flatstock, comprising' a\plur-ality of punch-and-die couples, each ofsaidcouples comprising a punchmember and a die-member axially alined anddesigned to form a sectional knock-out, each of said members beingformed of a plurality of sections arranged one within another-and thesections of each member being immovable relatively'in the direction oftheir axes, a pair of ilat supporting elements to one of which onemember of each punch-and-die couple is applied and tothe other of whichtheother'member or eachpunch-anddie couple is applied, and astripping-element applied to at least one member oteachpunchanddiecouple. ,f

16. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal,comprising a die-set having spaced apart supporting elements, and aplurality lo1' punch-and-die couples, each punchand-die couple havinga`sectiorlal punch-member and a sectional die-member, the sections ofeach of said members being relatively immovable and.

thesections of both members having unyielding bearing 'againstsaidsupporting lelements to en-` able thecentersof said punch-anddie couplesto be located at any selected points ofsaid supporting members accordingto a pre-determined layout and to enable allknock-outs in such'layout'tobe stamped in one operation.

17. Punch anddie mechanism for' punching spaced-apart solid foundationy'members presenting opposing supporting faces and being relativelymovable in a plane' at a right-angle to said supporting faces, aplurality of punch and die-cou- .knock-outs in' sheet-metal, comprisingtwo the sections of each member being immovable@ relatively and eachpunch-member being axially alined with a die-member.

, 18. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet-metal,comprising a plurality of knock-out making-devices, each having twomembers and each member having a center or core section and a pluralityof sleeve-like sections, one sleeve-like section surrounding another andall surrounding said center or core section, the

sections of each member having means to prevent lengthwise movementthereof, and suitable supports for said plurality of knock-outmakingdevices of suflicient areas to enable said devices l, to beapplied to selectively spaced-apart regions thereof with one member ofeach 'device in. axial alinement with the other member thereof, and

' means for vmoving said supports to place said knockout making-devicesinto and out of stamp-rv ing operation.

19. A knock-out making-device comprising two members adapted forco-action to stamp or shear sectional knock-outs, each member comprisinga center section and a plurality of surrounding sections, said sectionsbeing arranged with their operating ends in different and unchangingplanes, and-means for preventing relative movement of the sections ofeach member in the direction of the axis of such member.

20. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in-sheet metal,comprising a knockout making-device, having two members and each memberhaving a center or core section and at least a sleeve-like sectionsurrounding said center or core section, the sections of each memberhaving means to prevent lengthwise movement thereof in one direction, arigid backing for the sections lof each member ypreventing movement ofsaid sections in an opposite direction, and

means to secure said membersv to said backings.

21. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet-metal,comprising a plurality of knock-out making-devices, each having twomembers and each member having a center or core section and a pluralityof sleeve-like sections, one sleeve-like section surrounding another andall surrounding said center or core section,means to prevent lengthwisemovement of the sections of each member including a rigidv elementagainst which the inner ends of said sections bear, suitable supportsfor said plurality of knock-out makregions thereof with one member ofeach de cein axial alinement with the other member thereof, and meansfor securing said rigid elements to said supports.

22. Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs, comprising aplurality of knock-out making-devices, each having two members and eachmember having a plurality of concentric interfltting sections, rigidspaced-apart supports to one of which corresponding members of saidknock-out making devices are secured and to the other of which matingmembers of said knockout making-devices are paired in axial alinementtherewith, and means for securing said members to said supports to-prevent relative movement of the se`ctions of each member axially inone directions and co-acting means for the sections of each member toprevent movement thereof axially in an opposite' direction.

23. Punch and die mechanism for punchingknock-outs in sheet'metal orother flat stock,

comprising a pair of spaced-apart rigid supportto the securing face vofthe other of said supporting elements, each of. said members having aplurality of sections nested one within another and at least one of thesections of each of said members being longer than the others to form anannular projection and an annular depression on its operating face, allsections of each of said members receiving non-yielding support from thesupporting element to which they are secured so as to` prevent movementof said sections relatively in the direction of their axes during theact oi 'shearing or lancing stock.

24.4 Punch and die mechanism for punching knock-outs in sheet metal orother flat stock, comprising a pair of spaced-apart rigid supportingelements having flat securing faces, a punch member secured to thesecuring face of one of ing elements, each of said members having aplurality of sections nested one within another and at least one of thesections of each of said members being longer than' the others to forman annular projection and an annular depression on its operating face,the sections of each of said members receiving non-yielding support fromtheI supporting element to which they are secured so as to prevent axialmovement relatively in one direction, said sections having co-actingmeans to prevent axial movement relatively in an opposite direction.

LAWRENCE V. WHISTLER. SANFORD A. WHISTLER.

